Not Your Mother’s Baby Names

Yup, that’s my April 2009 birthboard up there! Or at least, the names most of the mothers chose for their children. The topic of boys’ names came up today on the board. Some of the names thrown around were: Finn (SUPER popular, guess why?), Seger, and Taven. An off-topic discussion of girls’ names included a Kahlan (pronounced “KAE-lyn”).

Also, grandparents who read books to their children would not necessarily balk at Avery for a boy since Avery was the brother of Fern in Charlotte’s Web.

Wow, some of these I love and some I really don’t like. And my son’s name is on the list! You did a great job representing 21st century names!

Finally a category of names where I struggle to find any winners. The only name in the girls’ side that surprised me was Tallulah. The only boys’ names I have a fondness for are Atticus, Dashiell, Harper. I would add Kaylee, Kylie and such to the girls side. What about Scarlet and Ruby?

Peach: I think Kaylee/Kylie are already very popular in my neck of the woods, not sure those could be called “new”, at least where I live.

There are some names I like on this list, but I think they might feel dated very soon–names that are of the moment. But that could just be me.

Frickin’ frack. Avalon needs to stay on the under appreciated side, as it is the decided name of our first born who will be conceived in the next 1-2 years.

I think in backlash to the Kaylee, Bailey, Jayla we will go the other way to folksy, “authentic” names like Eudora and Alma, Reba and Maisie.

I think we are missing some religious zealot and conservative names: Serendipity, Epiphany, Seraphina, Prudence, Loyal, Fiscal Responsibility… joke, joke. Deacon fits into this “trend” I just made up.

Peach,

Both of my great-grandmothers were named Ruby so I don’t think it fits this category of “new” names.

I have seen so many Mileys in the last few years that it is ridiculous. I have also been noticing an interest in the name Seraphina by many other name enthusiasts and have already met two newborn Seraphinas. I have a feeling that she may possibly be the next Sophia. With her pleasant more common nickname option of Sarah, parents are seeing the advantages of this name.

Love seeing my maiden name on the boys list, Nash.

Favourites I have recently added to my list (so I see what you mean by “nouveau”)

Paisley
Cohen
Jett

Oh my, I just came across a woman on my board who gave her son the legal name of Kiddo Archer-Clyde.

Sorry to spam post, but on a brighter note another woman on the board named her sons Stacy Thomas and Kelly White (White is a middle).

I love a lot of these names. Particularly the up and comer Wilder. I have a soft spot for him.

Absolutely LOVE the name Brighton for a little girl. I lived in a little town called Brighton for a summer, and ever since I’ve wanted to use it for one of my kids. Now to sell the hubs…

I’ve had Wilder in mind since I was about 11 and in love with Almanzo Wilder.

Stella Says:

“I think in backlash to the Kaylee, Bailey, Jayla we will go the other way to folksy, “authentic” names like Eudora and Alma, Reba and Maisie. ”

More like this, please! New name list in the making?

…maybe called “Appalachian Chic”

Just kidding. But seriously, names that evoke barefoot women, coal mining men, and dusty children — those are more “real” to me than a Jayla or Aydin.

Sad that all the “either” names are all boy names. Even some of the “girl” ones too.

Why don’t people realize that names that legitimately end in son (except for maybe Allison) actually mean son of, and therefore should NEVER be used for girls.

Ainsley (I went to school with a girl with this name in the 80′s so it isnt that new), Sienna, Juno and Tallulah are my favourite girls names. FYI Miley isn’t Miley Cyrus’s birth name, and the name has finnish roots, in its proper spelling Maili.

As for boys, it seems like they are being named after physical things. What’s next meet my sons Cupboard and Broomstick?

I wish the Americas were like some European countries, in that a you have to be able to denote a childs gender by their name.

I nanny for three children, Atticus, Abbott and Beckett. My cousin is 4 and is named Bodhi, I know a two year old Maximus and a 19 year old Kai. Bodhi’s father named his cats (both male), Kai and Nesta, 8 years ago.

Boo! I’m ashamed to admit that some of my favourite names seem very much in the trendy 21st century camp – Saige, Sienna and Skyler for girls, Kyan and Xander for boys. Peyton, Rowen and Romy are also up there, although not top candidates. A lot of those I didn’t think were ‘new’ (Saige, Sienna, Xander and Romy are all acquaintences of mine over the age of 25), but perhaps they’re just in vogue now.

I would add Violet to the list of 21st century names… it seems super popular these days.

This is where names are headed? Then I think I need to brace myself. Good thing I’m sticking to older names. Don’t really think Matilda or Eloise are going to have too many others in their school with the same name. It’s just saddening to see Tallulah up there as I love it.

I wanted to name Klee, Blaire..and I should have it fits her better. Her daddy didn’t want to cuz it reminded him of witch project. Trace on the other hand was the only name I had for my son. He was born 1/27/10. I think it’s an awsome name!

nice

I had a Chandelier and the kids used to tease her that her brother should have been named Windowsill….

I really don’t like the idea of naming a child “Cohen”. As a Jew, I find it offensive. Why not make it the Irish Cohan, since everything is about surnames?

As for all these weird names, yuck. Guess I was born in the wrong century….

i want all the new names for baby boy starting from hi( in hindi)

I totally love Vita!!!

I named my son Camden in 2002. I had never heard of it until then and have watched it rise from around #380 on the social security baby name list to where it is today. Needless to say I have been very surprised at it’s growth. The name Camden seems to be very popular in my neck of the woods (north Georgia), as there are four other kids named Camden at his small school alone, both girls and boys, and I know even more. I would definitely say it belongs on this list.

I am pretty surprised that my name is a 21st Century name, as a Rowan, I have only ever met one other and heard of about 5. I love my name, and I love that people are naming their children it, but I am really shocked at it’s popularity, guess it must be way more popular in the US than I thought

[...] while back we did a blog called Not Your Mother’s Baby Names, about names that fail to bridge the gender gap. That post focused on newly-minted names that the [...]

I love Romy, Vita, Luna, Juno, Sienna and Indigo
and Romeo and Lennon for a boy.